So, what are you drinking now?

@Benancio, given the choice, which single malt would you choose; Talisker 10 YO or Lagavulin 16 YO?

@paddockjudge That's a serious question that deserves a serious answer.

The short answer is I made my choice yesterday at the liquor store and bought the Talisker 10y.
I looked at the Lagavulin 16y, but I just can't bring myself to buy it any longer. Even though I see the price dropping on it.

Back in 2009 to 2011 I was in love with Lagavulin 16 and it was never not in my bar. Something has happen to this one time great single malt that has made it Dull, flat and one dimensional. I had a sample at a friend a few weeks ago and It's sad to say that it hasn't improved. My friend tried to convince me that its coming back to what it once was, I told him it's getting better, "its not really". I'd pay $100 for a 2010 bottle but not $60 for a 2015.

Talisker 10y 2015 bottle is really good, had two drams last night. 45.8% ABV, light in color so if there is caramel added it's very little, complex so not much filtering. It's rich, malt forward, sweet peat, nice smoke, pepper spicy, slightly salty, dark fruit, with an amazing long finish. Its also reasonably affordable, I plan on gong back for another bottle.

I also like the 2001 - 20012 Talisker DE 11y old, fabulous! I know Talsiker has had its own issues with consistency who of them hasn't, but the 10y and 18y always seem to deliver quality. I don't care for the Talisker Storm, its harsh. I haven't tried to many of their other NAS expressions, I'm trying to stay away from NAS.

It seems like the distilleries are taking barrels that don't meet the flavor profile and making NAS whiskey with bold names, then charging higher prices for them.

Sorry for the long reply, it's JMHO

@paddockjudge Correction, I just looked at the bottle code, this is a 2012 Talisker 10y.

Code: L2 289CM000

I'd still buy the Talsker 10y.

@talexander I quite like the Ungava - tried the Rendles recently and not a fan; Sipsmith and Ungava are my favorite 'available in Toronto' gins.

Not sure if you have tried the Tonic from BYOB but it is apparently quite nice (I usually drink mine straight on the rocks but others have been favorable). Nice selection of bitters as well...

@Benancio, thanks for the detailed reply. I find Talisker age statement releases to be consistently great; perhaps I've just been lucky. My experience with Lagavulin 16 has not been the same; consistency has varied.

A few months ago I was asked to select a single malt for the extremely limited list at a local bistro, the only single malt for the spirits line-up. I was torn between Lagavulin 16 and Talisker 10. I chose Lagavulin 16, this time around.

@JayRain I've been to BYOB tons of times but I've never purchased their tonic - I really should! I usually use Fever Tree tonic water. Fever Tree makes great ginger ale as well.

Tullamore dew 14 year old single malt. A surprisingly nice expression. Crisp citrus marzipan, icing sugar and apple pie. Quite one dimensional but a nice easy going malt.

Wild Turkey 101 Rye: What a splendid 'drop'! I'm eternally greatful to @Victor for suggesting that stashing a few bottles, while there were some to stash, might not be such a bad idea. Lately I've taken to using a plump, stemmed Copita with this Rye, one not unlike that offered by SMWS. but with a slightly longer stem.

2 oz. of 101 Rye (measured), 3 drops of pharmacy grade distiller water in the copita and the aroma is spell-binding and everything else totally bewitching: And, I am a very happy chappy, indeed!

Rathima andu atene!

@paddockjudge As far as Smokey Islay Scotch goes Lagavulin 16y and Laphroaig 18y are still King. They just use to be a lot better. I actually almost bought the Lag 16, I just went for the Talisker 10 because I like it better Now.

@A'bunadhman, OMG that sounds like a perfect Saturday night. Jimmy Russel made something special when he made WT 101 Rye. One of my favorites. Victor knows his Ryes and this one is a Winner!

smoothie, ribena and laphroaig. Trying not to mix them together too much, but equally trying to make sure i don't wake up with a hangover.

Visited a friend and he offered me Dalmore 15, Glenmorangie Lasanta, before dinner, and after dinner we desserted on Ardbeg 10.

The ol' lady just made me a Manhattan with Forrester Signature 100proof. It is not bad at all. I actually think it's a really good mixing drink as its a decent whiskey but not something I'd get excited to drink on it's own.

Yamazaki 12 Year Old - my first Japanese malt whisky many years ago and still as delightful.

Baseball-watching day. The Dodgers are in DC. Yesterday we got to see Clayton Kershaw live at the top of his form. 14 strikeouts of the first 21 batters. Today, on the TV, and near 100 F at the stadium, it is Zach Greinke pitching against Max Scherzer. It has been since 1968, according to ESPN, since pitchers with these ERAs have pitched against one other. Today's probable 'line-up': George T. Stagg 2013, William Larue Weller 2012, and Talisker 57 Degrees North.

JW's Green Label @ 43%: This has improved enormously in a large decanter, so much so, that I can boldly state that this is the best 'Green' I've ever had! Just a few weeks in large glass and voila! Very shy (for want of a better word) on opening, especially the nose, it is now practically unreconizable and has truly blossomed with an outstanding nose that is a virtual Herb Garden - I am enjoying this fine Whisky so much that, as usual, the tide is going out faster than it should.

It sits along side an A'bunadh #49 which opered most subdued with a practically non-existent nose and not the usual depth I recognize in these batches and sadly it has not improved at all. I'll give it time but my feeling is that this Whisky is not going anywhere.

Slainte!

@Victor - off the top of my head, will guess Gibson would be one and Marichal as the other (likely a NL team as I don't recall McClain having a great ERA in his 31 win season so it is not the World Series)...

@JayRain, I do not recall who pitched in the last 1968 duel of average of sub-2.0 ERA pitchers, but Bob Gibson was the best there was at that time, and I never tired of watching Juan Marichal pitch, with that 8 foot high stretch (and I am old enough to remember those games in the 1960s). Today Greinke set his own career strikeout record at 11. Scherzer wound up losing the game because the winning and only run he gave up was on a wild pitch. (which, if the catcher had not hurried his throw, would have caught the batter at home.)

@Victor Nice! Maggie and I watched baseball on Saturday - the Pan Am Games are in town and we went to see Canada defeat Puerto Rico 7-1! Then last night they took the Gold against the US, 7-6!

Last night, my Dad, brother in law and I toasted the birth of my ne daughter with some Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 47, and some Amrut Peated. Excellent drams for a joyous occasion!

@mscottydunc, Congratulations! The pitter-patter of tiny feet gives a whole new meaning to top shelf.

Booker's 2013 - 6 @ 62.95%: This opened well though just a little locked up; half an hour in the glass and a small teaspoon of distilled water made a noticable difference - Decanted the Whiskey, noticing what appears to be a small charcoal deposit in the bottle; not as much as a previous bottle and I'd say perfectly harmless. I imgine this small residue part of the filtration process (?). I expect this Booker's to be tops and the 'morning after, empty glass' is full of herbs, farmyard and those wonderful musty haystacks. This is a wonderful aroma and bodes well.

Cheers!

@mscottydunc

Is this your first? I remember those days....8 years on each day gets better and better.

Excellent choices of dram (hope it was the CS Amrut peated), though where you had the time and energy to drink....

I'm looking forward to trying the A'Bunadh batch 47 in 9 months and 6 days!

@mscottydunc Congrats - may all be routine in the months and years to come

Last night I got the fire pit going...Roasted some hot dogs, and s'mores (graham cracker with toasted marshmallow, and Hershey's chocolate).

As it got dark the family went inside, and I stayed out for a while longer making sure the logs in the fire pit were all but burnt out.

Was enjoying some Wild Turkey 101 with the mosquitoes (Wisconsin's 'unofficial' state bird)...True 'Americana'.

The Spice Tree by Compass Box @ 46%: This Whisky is sensational, now; it improved 'out of sight' in a large decanter. The texture, cool silky mouth-feel and layered spicy depth along with all the other ticks puts this 'drop' in a very select group of Whiskies indeed; and I wanted to tell Connosr members all about it - So, had a scratch around, found the empty and almost went cross-eyed deciphering the faintest etching I've ever seen...

L 17 05 13

3 14:16 68

Slainte!

Last night , took my oldest son out to a local steak house to celebrate his 21st birthday. While he stuck to beer, I had a 12 year Glenlossie (SMWS 46.27 "Italian chestnut cake") from a refill ex-sherry butt.

Followed by an in-house barrel-aged "Gaucho" Manhattan (Jacob's Ghost White Whiskey, bourbon, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth, bitters)

Finished with a Sazerac 6 year Rye. A great night.

@mscottydunc - congrats on your new addition to the family!

Tonight, started off with a 17 year Teaninich (SMWS 59.21 "Subtle fruits and minerals") distilled Dec. 1984

Followed by a 17 year Mortlach (SMWS 76.97 "Night time campfire treat")

Finishing with a head to head tasting of 2 Port Charlotte's ( 9 year SMWS 127.34 "Flying saucers and octopus balls" and a 12 year SMWS 127.43 "Kissing a smoker")

Antiquary 21 Year Old - impressively good for the price.

Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel 103 proof - Big Bold Robust Flavouful - Old Charter 12 YO on steroids.